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UNISFA calls for restraint and calm in Abyei

Troops on monitoring and ground patrol in Abyei

23 Jul2017

UNISFA calls for restraint and calm in Abyei

23 July 2017 | Abyei - The United Nations Interim Security for Abyei (UNISFA) calls for restraint and calm among communities in Abyei Area following the violent incident on 22 July 2017 along the highway of Todach to Goli, some 27 kilometers from Abyei town, that left eight civilians killed and one person injured.

UNISFA expresses its deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims.

UNISFA troops have conducted search operations, as well as an investigation of the incident, but the perpetrators have proved elusive so far. To date, UNISFA has stepped up its security measures on the highway leading to Amiet. Troops apprehended two persons and confiscated arms, ammunitions and a grenade.

The attack took place four days after the reopening of the trading activities at Amiet common market. Amiet common market has become a vital economic hub for Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities. In recent months, some criminal incidents have taken place in the vicinity of the common market, including yesterday’s attack.

UNISFA urges all communities to support the efforts to maintain the degree of peace and stability that Abyei has been experiencing over the last two years.

In wake of the attack, it has called for a renewal of commitment by both communities to the grass roots peace process in order to be able to make the prevailing conditions of peace and security withstand the test of violence by spoilers.

Stepping up security measures, the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) created the conditions for the two communities to interface with each other through their traditional leaderships and peace committees to enable a return to trading activity.